Lahad Datu intrusion: Commandos could not guard all areas

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia - The High Court was told that the establishment of five reconnaissance teams for the purpose of cordoning off Kampung Tanduo where armed intruders were holed up was not successful.

VAT 69 officer Superintendent Mancha Laga, who led one of the teams, said the mission could not be carried out effectively because the vast area was surrounded by oil palm trees, bushes, and the distance between each team.

Mancha was testifying on the sixth day of hearing against 30 people charged with offences linked to the armed incursion in Kampung Tanduo and the March 2 Simunul attack in Semporna.

During cross-examination by counsel Rowiena Rashid, who represented Pabblo Alie and Mancha agreed the setting up of the teams was to ensure that areas surrounding Kampung Tanduo were guarded to prevent armed intruders from escaping.

"However, the teams cannot guard the area shoulder to shoulder due to geographical factors," he said, agreeing with Rowiena that it was impossible to fully guard the village.

When re-examined by deputy public prosecutor Abdul Wahab Mohamed, Mancha said there was a possibility that the armed intruders escaped to other areas after the gunfight ended on March 1 which killed two VAT 69 personnel and 12 gunmen.

Abdul Wahab: "You had said "yes, they ran toward Tanduo". Was it just Tanduo?"

Mancha: "Yes, but they ran in a scattered manner and I believe the intruders ran to other places apart from Tanduo."

Abdul Wahab: "Am I right to say that the direction where the intruders ran was still within Sectors A,B,C,D and E?"

Mancha: "I believe the armed intruders ran to Sectors C and D. He said that because of the terrain and swampy area, it was difficult for the team to track the gunmen."

When asked by Abdul Wahab why he did not inspect houses at Kampung Tanduo after the skirmish, he said there was no instruction to do so, adding that the situation was unsafe as there were gunmen within the skirmish area.